Downtown bar McFadden's taken over by owners of Hopcat, Stella's Lounge, Viceroy

Press file photoMcFadden's is the fourth bar in the city's entertainment district controlled by Mark and Michele Sellers. They plan to finalize purchasing the bar when the liquor license transfer is approved by the state. This file photo shows the crowd outside the bar before its annual St. Patrick's Day party.

McFadden's Restaurant and Saloon, 58 Ionia Ave. SW, is under new management with an ownership change for the downtown "Irish" pub in the works.

After months of talks, Mark and Michele Sellers, who own Hopcat, Stella's Lounge and the Viceroy, this week took over management of the bar from Bar Management Group, the Charlotte, N.C., group that opened the place after the unlamented demise of its Tiki Bob's Cantina in 2005.

"McFadden's was looking to exit the Grand Rapids market so they were looking for someone else to manage it for them," Mark Sellers said. "We're applying for a transfer of the liquor license into our name. Until that happens, we're not going to make any changes."

Shane Philipsen, formerly of The B.O.B., has been named general manager.

"There are some changes we are going to make to the way the business is run, but it's not going to change as far as customers are concerned," Seller said.

Sellers said McFadden's, a popular place for receptions and rehearsal dinners, will honor all previous booking arrangements made with previous management and continue booking new events.

"The only thing I know right now is that it's profitable, but revenue has declined over the past few years," he said. "Some problems we're going to work on have revolved around having no owner present."

He said the bar has a long-term lease on the building, which is owned by Eric Wynsma. The Sellerses also have an option to purchase the building.

Over the longer term he expects the Irish pub concept to be discarded.

"It's too early for me to talk about because I don't have the concept finalized in my head yet," Sellers said.